Expressing Inexpressible Joy

Christians are a miserable lot. Talk to a non-Christian and they may repeat what Robert G Ingersoll a noted orator and atheist stated in his defense for atheism, “The church teaches us that we can make God happy by being miserable ourselves.” Even Christians notice the joylessness of other Christians, as Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. stated, “I might have entered the ministry if certain clergymen I knew had not looked and acted like undertakers.”
Joy should be a central part of a Christian’s character. Many times we (English speaking people) tend to think joy and happy (happiness) are synonymous. The Bible shows a clear distinction between happiness and joy. Joy is the stronger more spiritually dynamic of the two. For Christians, though we have never physically seen Jesus, we put our love and trust in him. This trust and love should lead to an inexpressible joy, “You love Him even though you have never seen Him. Though you do not see Him now, you trust Him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.” (1 Peter 1:8 NLT)
There are many reasons that Christians should show inexpressible joy. First, your sins are forgiven. Hebrews 8:12 states, “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.” (NLT) It is a wonderful thing to know that your sins are all forgiven, to know that there is not one single, slightest cloud between you and God. To know that no matter how many or how vile your sins are, that they are forgiven. Knowing that God has removed your sin and placed them into the sea of forgetfulness. To know that they are no longer remembered. To know that God has delivered you from all acts of unrighteousness. What a glorious thing that is, to know that your sins are forgiven.
The second reason that a Christian should show inexpressible joy is that you are free from the burden of sin. Sin is a burden. It is crushing to the spirit. Nary a person can show inexpressible joy when their spirit is crushed. When God forgives you of your sin, not only is that sin forgotten, you no longer need to carry that burden. The burden of sin has been removed for the Christian.
The third reason that a Christian should show inexpressible joy is that you are free from fear and worry. Fear and worry tend to accompany one another. Where there is fear, there is worry. Fear of the unknown. Worry of the future. Fear of death. Worry from what will happen in death. For a Christian, these are all answered. There is no fear in those who have Christ.
The fourth reason and the best reason Christians should show inexpressible joy is that you have eternal life. Is that not a great reason to rejoice? Knowing that you have received the gift of life through Jesus Christ. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 NLT) Christians have been given the gift of eternal life. While this world decays and death comes for everyone, Christians rejoice in the knowledge that they have been given the gift of eternal life. There is no better reason to show inexpressible joy than the gift of eternal life.

Christians do not need to sing, “Don’t Worry Be Happy,” to show they have joy in their life. Nor do they need to put on a happy face. To show inexpressible joy, all a person needs is Christ in their life and it should come naturally.